Copacabana has conjured images of beauty, sand and ocean, long before Barry Manilow was singing its praises. Capitalizing on some of the best beach-adjacent real estate north of Havana, the Emiliano Hotel enlisted the help of Oppenheim Architecture for the hotel brands new location on Rio de Janeiro's most famous beach.

The Miami-based studio has designed the hotel to try to make the most of its historic outlook. "The project fronts one of the most beautiful views in the world while being surrounded on three sides by dilapidated apartment buildings from the 1950’s. Through simple yet powerful spatial manipulations, the hotel optimizes its beneficial attributes while subverting its negative forces" the firm stated. 

The 90-room hotel features a distinctive façade with weatherproof panels that can open and close to the requirements of each guest. The interiors, designed by Brazilian architect Arthur Casas, feature large windows that allow the flow of natural light and offer up views of the the entire stretch of Copacabana Beach. When closed, the articulated panels provide privacy without compromising light, ventilation, or views.

Casas' interiors are inspired by the work of artist and landscaper Roberto Burle Marx, original designer of the Copacabana beach promenade. It includes the works of Sergio Rodrigues, the father of Brazilian furniture, and contemporary designers like Paola Lenti. The lobby, clad in concrete and stone, is decorated with plush set-pieces and an original Burle Marx panel. The restaurant and private library open to separate courtyards filled with tropical vegetation and atop the hotel's 12-stories, sits its crowning feature—a slender pool with a glass wall that allows swimmers to take in the view while taking a dip. 

The hotel has opened just a few blocks down from the soon-to-be Museum of Image and Sound designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, as well as a currently under construction, 11-story luxury apartment building designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.